What do the revitalized corridors of H Street, Barracks Row, Dupont Circle, and Shaw Main Street have in common? Other than attracting new restaurants, businesses, and interest from residents and passerbys, they are all part of DC’s Main Street Program. The Program was one of the biggest drivers of revitalization along these corridors and it’s now coming to Rhode Island Ave NE.
The Department of Small and Local Business Development has put out a Notice of Funding Availability for Rhode Island Ave NE Target Area, saying:
The designated DC Main Streets program (organization) will receive $200,000 in grant funding and technical assistance to support commercial revitalization initiatives. The Rhode Island Avenue Main Streets organization will develop programs and services to: (1) assist business districts with the retention, expansion and attraction of neighborhood-serving retail stores; and (2) unify and strengthen the commercial corridor. The DC Main Streets grant award is a recurring grant.
The DC Main Streets Program is different than being a Great Streets (another program), and Rhode Island Ave NE now has the distinction of being both. Started in 2002, the DC Main Street Program “fosters retail investment in DC by providing services and funding to help communities retain and recruit businesses, improve commercial properties and streetscapes, and attract consumers.
“Through the DC Main Streets program, DSLBD provides comprehensive technical and financial assistance to build the capacity of neighborhood nonprofit organizations (i.e. DC Main Street organizations) to assist businesses and coordinate sustainable community-driven revitalization efforts in their neighborhoods. The local DC Main Street commercial district revitalization efforts are organized and led by local volunteers and community development professionals. DC Main Street program grant recipients are competitively selected.”
This is great news for the Avenue and is pointing to some great things to come for the Avenue!
rhodeislandavene.com 
What can be done about all the people hanging out in the Home Depot parking lot. I’ve seen enough of this to make me want to move out not into the area…and the smell of trash on humid days? The McDuffie needs to do something about this if he wants to get re-elected!
To Know, if you’re going to complain about people who are only looking to do some honest work then you should move out of the area. You (and we) should be more concerned about those hanging out in front of the liquor stores! And btw, how does this effort get the f*&#@ing developers of RI Row to get their retail open? after 3 years of waiting, I’m pissed off! I have heard from numerous businesses that the developers think they are in Clarendon or something with the rents they are asking, and that’s why it will only get damn chains.